Professor Emerita Stacy Brustin, director of the Immigration Law and Policy Initiative at Catholic Law, was recently quoted in an OSV News article examining the implications of ICE data on immigration arrests during the Trump administration. The report, based on an internal federal document obtained by CBS News, revealed that nearly 40% of those arrested had no criminal record, with many accused of civil immigration offenses such as overstaying visas or being in the U.S. without legal authorization. Among those with criminal charges or convictions, only 14% had records involving violent crimes.

Brustin emphasized the importance of distinguishing between charges, convictions, and arrests, noting that “charges are not convictions” and that the U.S. legal system upholds the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” She expressed concern over the high number of individuals with no or minor criminal histories being detained, as well as the indiscriminate enforcement of immigration policies. Brustin criticized the administration’s numeric quotas for arrests, which she argued lack clear priorities and fail to focus on individuals with serious criminal convictions. This, she said, has led to the detention of many individuals with legal status, including asylum seekers who are following the rules.